China's Revisionism and Cessation of the Doklam Impasse

In: Mezinárodní vztahy: Czech journal of international relations, Band 56, Heft 2, S. 65-88

Abstract

In the light of the Chinese and Indian perspectives on the cessation of theDoklam impasse, the present article analyses China's role and status ininternational politics. The Chinese perspective described China as a statusquo power and never accepted Doklam as a disputed territory. Whileaccusing India of aggression on Chinese territory, it portrayed China as a"responsible power" that ensured the cessation of the Doklam impasse withIndia through multiple diplomatic and military measures. Opposite to this,the Indian perspective viewed China as a revisionist power and termed thePLA's activities in Doklam as a source of consternation for its nationalsecurity. From the Indian perspective, China's declining growth rate,increasing internal conflicts, the potential threat to its peaceful image, itsapprehension regarding the BRI's derailment, the Korean crisis, thestrategically advantageous position of the Indian military in Doklam andNew Delhi's strategic relevance for Beijing in promoting its new economicand political groupings forced China to resolve the standoff peacefully.